Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich

A filling and healthy Vegetarian Sandwich. Great for picnic or packing for lunch. (Can be vegan)

Posted On: Jul, 19 |  Author:
Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

To keep-up with goal of healthy meatless Mondays, today, I'm sharing a delicious grilled vegetables and spiced smashed chickpeas sandwich. This hearty sandwich will fill you up but will NOT weigh you down. Oh- and you can ready these veggie sandwiches, for four, in just 22 minutes!

Flavors in this sandwich are spot-on that not just for lunch, I even serve this sandwich for meatless dinners, sometimes!

Chickpeas Sandwich is not just a scrumptious combination of 'Mediterranean Veggie Flavors' on plate.... But also has a balanced proportion of lean-veggie protein, whole-wheat carbs, and 2 daily recommended serving of vegetables.

Grilled Vegetables and Chickpeas Loaded Vegetarian Sandwich for a Healthy Summer Lunch | chefdehome.com

Also, continuing my summer motto of getting outdoor, firing-up the grill and eating healthy. Grilling-Season does not always mean meat-heavy-dinner or lunch. It can very well be a mouthwatering vegetarian dinner. 

In my home, even when my family is in mood of all-meat-grilled-dinner, I prefer to slice and season a few hearty vegetables to serve on the side. I'm sure you have seen in my number of recipes by now, that Summer Squash and Zucchini are two of my favorites. And they are always perfect on grill! Say thanks to long life of these vegetables, they stay fresh longer and are few of my favorite buddies in my "veggie quest"!

Grilled Vegetables and Chickpeas Loaded Vegetarian Sandwich for a Healthy Summer Lunch | chefdehome.com

I have to say, even without chickpeas, this sandwich is self-sufficient. Grilled zucchini, squash, and roasted pepper.....  with goat cheese and wheat ciabatta rolls, these alone make a delicious grilled vegetable sandwich. Really, great to pack for picnics, and lunch box friendly.

However, I really wanted "Chickpeas" to be the STAR of this sandwich.  So, to enhance the flavor of one-note chickpeas, I flavored them with some bold spices: garlic, oregano, and cumin and then smashed them with brine-y and tender artichoke hearts. This unique combination gave smashed chickpeas, depth of flavor and scrumptious textural contrast.

Grilled Vegetables and Chickpeas Loaded Vegetarian Sandwich for a Healthy Summer Lunch | chefdehome.com

All elements of this Sandwich are screaming "Mediterranean Flavors". Lately, I'm enjoying a lot of Mediterranean dishes. Thing is, there are lot of spices and vegetables in Mediterranean diet which are also very popular in Indian cuisine. So, it is natural for me to like and also play with these flavors. Like chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) we use a lot.... I mean, A LOT, in Indian cuisine and so do garlic, cumin, and paprika. 

Even after many similar ingredients and flavors, I still won't call this sandwich "Indian". Why? because ingredients like olives, and oregano don't belong in Indian cuisine that much.  

Grilled Vegetables and Chickpeas Loaded Vegetarian Sandwich for a Healthy Summer Lunch | chefdehome.com

The bread used for sandwich is home-baked Ciabatta Rolls. You can also use bread roll of your choice, or Pita Bread or Indian Naan for this sandwich. If you are planning to make any of these breads at home. Here are the recipes:

1. Ciabatta Rolls (This recipe uses all-purpose flour. For the batch of ciabatta seen in Sandwich, I have used Wheat Flour instead. I will share this recipe soon.)
2. Pita Bread
3. Naan Bread
4. Garlic Naan Bread

Wish you all a wonderful week ahead. -Savita

Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash with Spiced Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich - Can be made vegan - Check the recipe | chefdehome.com

Make an easy side-salad to serve Quick and Healthy Complete Meal!

Sesame Sriracha Marinated Kale (Egg Nests) Salad Fennel and Apple Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with White Balsamic-Herb Dressing | Boudin Bakery Copycat

Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich

Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: American () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 4 Sandwiches - Serves: 4

Ingredients

Grilled Vegetables Sandwich
Smashed Chickpeas
Smart Swap: Looking for a Vegan Sandwich? Replace Goat Cheese with Vegan Cashew Spread or some Garlic Hummus!

Directions

  • Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 1. Heat one tbsp oil in small saute pan. Add garlic and let it perfume oil for 30 seconds. Don't let it burn. Add cooked chickpeas (drained if using canned) with all the spices (cumin, oregano, paprika).
    Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 2. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until chickpeas are nicely coated with spices and are fork tender. Add lemon juice, mix well. Taste and adjust salt. Remove from heat.
  • Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 3. Transfer chickpeas to a bowl, add artichoke hearts. Make sure to remove fibrous outer layers (if any) from artichokes. Using a fork, smash the chickpeas leaving just a few ones whole. Set aside.
    Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 4. Heat an iron griddle. Drizzle oil on squash and zucchini slices or just spray the grill with oil spray. Season with salt and black pepper. Place on hot grill and cook until nice grill marks appear on both sides. And veggies are tender to your liking. (I grill for 2-3 minutes each side) Also, toast/grill the ciabatta rolls if you prefer.
  • Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 5. To build the sandwich, spread an even layer of room temperature goat cheese spread (about 1/2 tbsp each side) on both sides of bread. On bottom half of bread, top half of a whole roasted bell pepper, grilled zucchini and yellow squash slices (one to two of each), heaping 2-3 tbsp of smashed chickpeas and some chopped olives.
    Step for Recipe - Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich 6. Serve open face or cover with other slice of bread and toast in panini press. Serve or pack for lunch and enjoy!
Savita's Notes:

How to make it VEGAN? This veggie sandwich can also be, easily, made vegan. Just skip Goat cheese or replace it with vegan spreads: like Cashew Spread or Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Spread or Hummus.

I have used a very less goat cheese, about 1/2 tbsp on each side of bread. If you like your sandwich more creamy, feel free to use more.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

© Chef De Home. Post content including video and photos are copyright protected.

Craving For More? Subscribe Weekly Newsletter Check Products We Use (affiliate links) Request a Recipe

We Think You'll Love

Kale Pesto Pappardelle Pasta Kale Pesto Pappardelle Pasta
Chickpea Pasta Salad Chickpea Pasta Salad
Rustic Spinach, Artichokes and Basil Pesto Pizza Rustic Spinach, Artichokes and Basil Pesto P
Checkout Recipes with: Zucchini Artichokes

Leave a Message:

Did you try the recipe? Do you have feedback or a question? Leave a message below.

*Name and Email are required.

28 Responses

  1. This looks great
    thanks, Dawn! I'm glad you like it.
  2. This is my kind of sandwich! I love veggie sandwiches packed with flavor -- this I need to try!
    Marcie, thanks. I'm so pleased you like this sandwich. I hope you get chance to try it soon. Thanks for stopping by, my friend.
  3. Healthy and a must include in everyone's menu
    Alka, thanks! I agree, healthy meals should be part of everyone's daily diet.
  4. Looks like a healthy fullfilling treat!! love it!!
    Thanks, Puneet!
  5. Looks perfect Savita! Will be making it for lunch ! Love veggie sandwiches!
    Thanks, Mira!
  6. Chickpeas on a sandwich? What an interesting idea...I'm intrigued, though! I know chickpeas make for a great burger...so why wouldn't they work here, too? I love the flavors you've got going on!
    David, thank you for your kind words. Chickpeas are amazingly versatile, no wonder they make great burgers, chips or even taste great on sandwich.
  7. Wow, super power packed sandwich.. perfect for vegetarians like me :)) Here i am having sabudana khichdi looking at your tempting pics of the sandwich...Loved it
    lo! Gauri, eating khichadi and craving sandwich :) Now, that's what I call foodies ;-)
  8. Lovely recipe dear. It looks so delicious. I am hungry now :)
    thanks, Kushi!
  9. These sandwiches look so delicious Savita! I love grilled vegetables and really love that you added chickpeas in here. So unique and tasty!
    Thanks, Keri! Chickpeas are STAR in this sandwich.
  10. Okay, lately I have been only craving vegetarian meals (for some reason -- NO idea why), but I am seriously NEEDING this sandwich right now. I just put it into our meal plan for this week and took out another meal we already had planned...can't wait to try it!!
    You know, me too craving a lot of veggies these days :) I think, it is summer fever. Don't you think?! Thanks for kind words my friend, I hope you like this sandwich when you try. I shall wait for feedback. Have a great day.
  11. I love that you smashed the chickpeas in here! How fun! This whole sandwhich looks like an awesome Mediterranean flavor bomb!
    Thanks, Rachelle! I'm glad you like the flavors in here :) Have a great day, my friend!
  12. I love the sound of smashed chickpeas! delish!
    thanks, :)
  13. This sandwich sounds perfect, Savita! I've always wanted to try smashed chickpeas on a sandwich. Love the grilled veggies, too!
    Thanks, Gayle! Trust me, Smashed chickpeas taste great on sandwiches :)
  14. I love this veggie packed sandwich. We have been adding chickpeas in to our sandwiches recently as it bulks them out with some protein.
    Thanks, Dannii! I agree, chickpeas are so filling, and also source of veggie protein!